Chapter 69: Lifting the Siege of Yangzhou

"In such a hurry to see me, has something big happened?"

The Marquis of Wuyang asked unhappily.

Disturbing someone's sleep in the middle of the night was truly annoying.

If the situation weren't special, he would have kicked the person out long ago.

"Congratulations, My Lord!"

"Under your brilliant command, tonight our army launched a surprise attack on the rebel camp, burned countless enemy grain and fodder, beheaded fifteen thousand rebel soldiers, and eight hundred leaders...

The enemy army has fallen into chaos, and it is expected that they will retreat tomorrow.

The siege of Yangzhou is lifted!"

After Li Mu finished speaking, the Marquis of Wuyang was completely stunned.

He had seen braggarts, but never one who could blow such a horn.

What night raid on the enemy camp? How come he didn't know about it?

In an instant, the Marquis of Wuyang suspected he was hallucinating.

"Company Commander Li, you must think clearly; reporting false military intelligence is a capital offense!"

The Marquis of Wuyang asked seriously.

"My Lord, everything I said is true!

If you don't believe me, you can go to the city wall with me to see; at this moment, the rebel camp is filled with fire, and there is shouting and screaming everywhere.

As for how many enemy troops were killed, it's hard to count in the pitch black, but in any case, the number is definitely not small.

After the enemy retreats, when we send people out to collect the corpses, we will naturally know the specific battle results!"

Seeing Li Mu speaking with such conviction, the Marquis of Wuyang already believed eight or nine parts of the success of the night raid on the enemy camp.

The rest was nothing more than the number of beheadings, which might have some flaws.

Those were all small problems; as long as the siege of Yangzhou was lifted, everything about the battle report could be handled.

"How many people did you send to raid the enemy camp?"

The Marquis of Wuyang asked with concern.

To share the credit, they definitely had to get their stories straight.

"Five hundred people!"

Li Mu said truthfully.

Hearing this answer, the Marquis of Wuyang rolled his eyes on the spot.

Trying to fool a ghost!

Five hundred soldiers raiding the enemy camp, burning the enemy's granary, and killing over ten thousand enemy troops.

If such a magical battle report were sent up, and the Emperor held him accountable, even he, the Imperial Uncle, wouldn't be able to cover it.

Young people were just too bold; for the sake of merit, they dared to do anything.

"Alright, let's go to the city wall together and take a look."

The Marquis of Wuyang waved his hand impatiently.

Although he suspected the water content of the battle report, he still believed in the success of the night raid.

Based on his understanding of Li Mu, at most he would exaggerate the battle results, but he wouldn't do the foolish thing of fabricating military merit out of thin air.

After quickly changing into his official uniform, the group headed straight for the city wall.

Looking at the raging fire in the distance and listening to the screams from the enemy camp, a smile appeared on the Marquis of Wuyang's gloomy face.

"The enemy army seems to have experienced a camp panic; was your night raid...?"

The Marquis of Wuyang asked pointedly.

Encountering a camp panic in the enemy army during war was a low-probability event, but as long as you encountered it, it was hitting the jackpot.

After the enemy finished killing each other, going up to cut off the heads was ready-made military merit.

"Don't worry, Regional Military Commissioner, the enemy's camp panic was caused by our army's sneak attack.

A victory banquet is being held in the temporary camp for the meritorious officials, and the soldiers are waiting for you to go over and distribute the reward silver!

This subordinate made a promise to them on my own authority: as long as the burning of the enemy's granary was successful, each person would be rewarded with fifty taels of silver.

For those who died in battle, besides the reward silver, a fifty-tael pension would also be issued.

For those who survived, the incumbent officers and soldiers would each be promoted three ranks.

The others would be provided with a job position by the imperial court with a monthly salary of no less than one and a half taels, and they could decide for themselves whether to accept it."

Hearing Li Mu's lion's mouth, the Marquis of Wuyang was startled.

The problem of reward silver was easy to solve; there were only five hundred soldiers in total, and the treasury could afford tens of thousands of taels of silver.

Job positions were even simpler; the imperial court recruited soldiers every year, and those who dared to raid the enemy camp were all brave warriors.

Those willing to stay, the Wucheng Infantry Division could directly accept them.

Promoting incumbent officers and soldiers three ranks each was fatal; where was he supposed to find so many positions?

"You didn't send all the company commanders under your command, did you?"

Hearing the Marquis of Wuyang's question, Li Mu knew he had been misunderstood.

After all this, this person was still doubting the authenticity of the night raid.

"Regional Military Commissioner, how would this subordinate dare to fool you!

The highest-ranking commander participating in the night raid was only a squad leader.

In the team of five hundred, there were fewer than ten incumbent officers, and only three returned alive."

Li Mu explained with a wronged expression.

Sending a group of noble descendants to do such a suicidal mission, even a fool would know there was a problem.

Even if he wanted to buy people's hearts and share the credit with his subordinates, he could wait for the rebels to leave and then cut off heads; there was no need to leave hidden dangers here.

"If the highest commander was a squad leader, then promoting three ranks is not impossible to discuss.

There are many nominal officers in my Wucheng Infantry Division, so adding one more deputy company commander doesn't matter.

However, there are no vacancies in the yamen, so the position can only be a nominal one. If you want to obtain a real position, you must go to the local area to serve.

The others are the same; if they want to obtain a real position, they can only go to the local area to serve.

You caused this matter, so you are responsible for explaining it clearly to them yourself."

The Marquis of Wuyang said with a softened expression.

Knowing that those who obtained military merit were all low-level officers and soldiers, he no longer doubted the authenticity of the night raid.

Noble descendants might fabricate a pile of military merits for their own progress, but they would never take risks for a group of unrelated low-level officers and soldiers.

Since the night raid was true, he was not afraid of the imperial court's subsequent investigation, and he was happy to add a share of merit to himself.

"Don't worry, Regional Military Commissioner, everyone is too grateful to you to have any dissatisfaction!"

Li Mu expressed his stance immediately.

In the Great Dayu Dynasty, being able to meet a superior who didn't embezzle merit and was willing to fulfill promises was definitely a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes.

If it were someone with an ugly eating habit, these people's merits would have been sold for favors long ago.

Li Mu felt it was a miracle that the Marquis of Wuyang could fulfill the requirements he proposed without any discount.

"Don't be too happy too soon; for now, we can only distribute the reward silver.

After the enemy troops outside the city retreat and it is confirmed that the siege of Yangzhou is lifted, this Imperial Envoy can fulfill these appointments.

And you kid, you should also prepare yourself.

Having made such a great contribution, you will definitely have to move your position; have your uncle operate it early.

If you want to stay in the capital, that's fine, but if you want to seek an external appointment, Jiangnan is a good place."

The Marquis of Wuyang said with a laugh.

There is no banquet in the officialdom that does not end.

Everyone was a well-connected person, and with the battle record of defending Yangzhou, basically everyone had to move up.

"Thank you for your guidance, My Lord!"

As the Imperial Envoy inspecting salt transport, the Marquis of Wuyang had a say in the appointment of vacant official positions in the Lianghuai region.

Pointing it out now and letting him operate in advance was undoubtedly preparing to return the favor.

After all, everyone was mixing in the same circle, and merit could not be taken for nothing.

Hearing the subtext, Li Mu felt a headache instead.

According to convention, capital officials going out to serve usually get promoted by one rank.

Added to this time's merit, rising two ranks was stable, and three ranks seemed to be justifiable.

Promotion was a foregone conclusion; the key was the position.

For military generals of the same rank, the difference in authority was also worlds apart.

Only by choosing the right position would there be a next step.

Carrying his worries, after attending the victory banquet, the sky had already begun to brighten.

Neither Li Mu nor the Marquis of Wuyang had any sleepiness at this time, standing quietly on the city wall waiting for the final result.

The fire in the rebel camp was still burning, the screams had long since disappeared, and looking from afar, no personnel activity could be seen.

"Battalion Commander, the enemy has run away!"

Hearing the news from the soldiers scouting the enemy situation, Li Mu revealed a surprised smile.

This time he bet right!

"Regional Military Commissioner, please order the city gates to be opened to pursue the remnants!"

Li Mu said immediately.

It was time to grab heads.

If they didn't act quickly, other colleagues would take action.

"Order all units to open the city gates and pursue the remnants.

Remember not to pursue too far, beware of the enemy army making a comeback!"

The Marquis of Wuyang ordered in high spirits.

The curse that had plagued him for many days was finally lifted from his head.

After this battle, whoever dared to say he relied on connections to get his position, he would slap them.

As a foreign relative with military merit, he had already drawn a qualitative distinction from that group of foreign relatives who just ate and waited for death.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 70 =====